Sammy Davis Jr. - I Gotta Be Me

[ChicanoTattooArt]

I had a weird dream about this song and him, I always have wierd ass dreams about las vegas too.

[7beers]

Are those blondes all sisters? They look so much alike.

[ChicanoTattooArt]

@7beers could be, you know how Huge Hefner did it.

[TheKrabDoctor]

Dr Pepper ruined it.

[frogsoda]

When I go to the cigar bar there will be half a dozen or more guys (and gals) smoking Cigars and one person will come in and light a cigarette and stink the place up. Cigars are classy. Cigarettes are just nasty.

[sauquoit13456]

JUST MISSED!!! "I've Gotta Be Me" just missed making the Billboard's Top 10 chart; it peaked at No. 11 and spent a total of 16 weeks in the Top 100 in 1968/69, it entered the charts on Dec. 14th, 1968 {The song was featured in the Broadway musical "Golden Rainbow"}

[PeetsWorld]

I LOVE SAMMY....always did.....yes, white people loved him just as much.....talent is talent in whatever package it comes in. He was a beautiful flower in God's garden!

[charlosgibson]

terrific song

[Pinay511]

WOW! Holding a cigarette in one hand and still can sing with an exceptional performance! Live! What a great voice!

[teimusheen]

Original swag

[bigmamatofive]

Can't find talent like that anymore!!! Damn shame he's gone. Rat Pack too! Partying without us! Happy New Year 2012 Sammy..

[frank2bad]

WOW. first time I heard this was when I was watching 24/7 with Ortez and Mayweather. No Idea song was sung by a Black guy. Awesome song

[TheRetro64]

Years later, Sammy would be a special guest star on an episode of "The Cosby Show". He played a former boxer who can not read.

[gracelannd]

That was Bill Cosby, with the cigar at the beginning.

[TheStebba]

Sammy Davis Jr was merried whit my grandma´s sister! :D

[scottchapmansinger]

Fantastic song

[podcastshmodcast]

so queer yet so utterly poignant! If SDJ can control his self righteousness. Since he's gotta be him, another man cannot have his cigar (?) See what S Freud would say about this

[IndigoChild6]

Oh I love him. I wish he was still alive I would have loved to see him perform live.

[d3rd3vil]

Fantastic performance from a fantastic entertainer and person. God bless him :)

[lovenatalie100]

Don't be d'pressed.  The whole rat pack tempted fate with cigarettes and booze. Too bad Sammy checked out early. He was a genius.

[RDP0504]

16 people don't got to be themselves..

[VEGANSAM]

IS HE KIDDING?!

He has a problem with Bill's cigar 6.5 FEET away, while he's HOLDING a cigarette 3 INCHES from his face?!

To quote Slim from Blazing: "I AM d'pressed..."

[TheJoeyRothShow]

@VEGANSAM lol i think that was suppose to be a joke since he was smoking. lol Tony Clifton use to do the same thing. Don't look like the joke went over too well!

[slantyrock]

Satanic Samjazz

[zoltron30]

@slantyrock

yeah thats crazy i heard he was a satanist

[angelman51266]

Sammy is brilliant!!

[harrychalcraft]

"Whether I'm right, or whether I'm wrong..."

[Pploco723]

HBO 24/7 send me here

[haroldmayorga1420]

@Pploco723

same here ploco, just an amazing son. those were the good old days,,, nice song

[mitbishi1]

@Pploco723 I agree 100%

[darylfan]

I agree with Gonk. Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. could give a wonderful performance of this song! Although Landau's song choice for the finals has undoubtly already been selected, this would be a great song for him to consider singing in the future!!

[JesSephton94]

He really is amazing! People don't sing like this any more. Such an inspirational song -3 :')

[Gonk]

@JesSephton94 Eugen Landau from Americas got Talent does, maybe he'll do this song in the Finales.

[vlraya]

I've gotta be me! ABSOLUTELY!

[olsenfair]

The real artists perform with their cigarettes in their hands!

[JonJonMorales]

Amazing!

[romelo103]

Sammy: Hey buddy can u cool it with the cigar im about to sing

Dude:(Puts cigar away)

Sammy:Some strange people you got at this party

Dude: (Puts cigar back in mouth and turns away) Silently Forget you Sammy

[DetroitTwoPointO]

@romelo103 that guy is Bill Cosby..it was a joke lol

[harrychalcraft]

freddy got fingered

[Mokkari77]

I always think of that nerdy date of Chrissy singing this on "Three's Company".

[17gerald]

This song was on the soundtrack in movie - did someone know about that? I'm searching for that movie.

[BBQFanNo1]

@17gerald Sweet Charity

[17gerald]

@BBQFanNo1 Thank you :)

[cards0486]

Sammy was such an important part of The Rat Pack, and he gets so little credit for his amazing talent. I love Frank and Dean....but Sammy was brilliant.

[WeBeLSB]

I really think he was lip singing

[tieuholy11]

@WeBeLSB : Did you see how small the room was? If he was lip singing then someone must noticed it already. I just think that the one who made this video in the first place didnt put the sound and the picture right so they not fit together somehow

[InjunKB]

Can you upload What kind of Fool Am I from this same appearance? He does a different timing at the end that I can not find in any other version.

[paulaxiz]

this guy is amazing! almost looks like his voice has been edited in :)

[ramronable]

wow he's got a big ass head!

[Lonestarry]

He asks the man with the cigar to leave the piano area....yet he's singing with a ciggie in his hand. Men - go figure.

[Ramubay]

@Lonestarry He was joking around. That man was Bill Cosby.

[ChloeAway]

SO GLAD GLEE PLAYED THIS SONG :)

[SparklingControversy]

I was born in the wrong era...

[renecrod3]

Sammy Davis Jr. is a legend.

[snailyguyproductions]

Oh the sweet love I'd make to this man

[lovemelor]

I am glad I found this. Now I don't know which ones better the Glee or this one. Gotta say this one! :)

[NOachillis]

@lovemelor dare i say it but i think teh glee one was better, mainly because its more upbeat and i could dance to it better :)

[BobKaye]

‹(•¿•)› Gotta Be Me ‹(•¿•)›

[ListenToLeon]

Sammy sang the motherf*ck outta that song!

[funknation77]

Absolutely superb!!!

The closest we got is Michael poxy buble........and he ain't worthy to tie sammys shoes.

[1955c]

where are these great singers today? my favorite song by sammy other then candy and i loved them all!

[lottaweeden]

tHANK YOU SAMMY,yOU´RE OUTSTANDING, sO LITTLE WITH THAT VOICE!!!!

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ME SO MANY OUTSTANDING MOMENTS. yOUY´LL

ALWAYS WILL BE IN MY HEART!!!

A LADY???? FROM SWEDEN

[boomerlady]

TALENT!!!! I am tearing up he was so damn good and died too young too soon

[therealraybaby]

The dream dat i see makes me what i am.

[jimmyb227]

Good Friday evening, friends! The great Sammy Davis, Jr. to end this really great day! Have a good one,all!

[p3n0rz]

Listened to this about 13 times in a row now. 0:33 replay button.

[SongsOfLife1]

One of the greatest perfomers to ever walk this earth....

Thanks Sammy :)

[rhinnawi95]

My dad's name is Sammy <3

[treesew]

They guy with the cigar was a young Bill Cosby...before the J-E-L-L-O.

[rhinnawi95]

@treesew Oh my gosh, it actually is :D

[Ifshar]

Unbelievable! Such class!

[MyInnerEyeMike99]

How funny is it that he asked the guy with the cigar to "cool it", yet he had a cigarette lit between his fingers!! Sammy!!! The one and only!!!

[illegalsmirf]

Is that blonde woman in the red seat near the piano his girlfriend?

[russxl]

15 people settled for less.

[1948Ringo]

Que voz maravilhosa! Que talento desse incrível Sammy!!! Outro que deveria ser eterno. Reparem quantos fumantes no ambiente. Inclusive ele. Que pena!!!

[boematsam]

a true entertainer long before mj

[wje203]

i once went backstage to his dressing room. i was his stand in on a Bob Hope show rehearsal in 1979 or 80. He was arrinving late and I learned his blocking and walked him through it the first time. He was a joyful, generous, shining soul.

[MusicisLife43ver]

thank you u just saved my life ahhaah xoxox

[MusicisLife43ver]

thk u thk u thk u i been loving for this haha omg i love xoxo

[1castleknight]

Wonderful singer and entertainer

[jdepps13]

what a great singer he was.... i love how he tells the guy to put out the cigar but he's holding a cigarette the whole song. ha!

[brewcity59]

"I can't be right for somebody else if I'm not right for me"... says it all!!!

[eulahagen]

@brewcity59 so true. What powerful statement.

[treatsnsweets]

AMAZING VOICE

[silkywilly47]

♫ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY ♫ - Sammy Davis Jr

Would be 85 today - 8th Dec 2010!

We miss you Sammy! ♡

[steveknows62]

@silkywilly47

Really.The consumate entertainer. There will never be another Sammy. Ever.

[harrychalcraft]

"You do have strange people at your parties baby!"

[LoveHellRight]

One of the greatest! Why do the Greatest always end up being Satanist for example Elvis, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and the whole Rat Pack, Madonna etc... Still love Sammy's Genius always! - Itanimul Lee Muhummad.

[ItsMoleMania]

@LoveHellRight ....The fuck are you on?!

[arianalabella]

@ItsMoleMania lol, right?

[BBQFanNo1]

@LoveHellRight Why would one of those people who revered Jesus Christ and God from a Pentacostal life experience from his Mother you mentioned in your comment chose to blasphemy God by being a Satanist? I heard about that story too but it is proven by many sources to be crap. Just like many other character assasination stories about people after they died by spinless coward scums put out to the public!!!!!!!!

[Spacemonkey3000BC]

@BBQFanNo1 Actually it was proven by the high priest of the church of satan that he was indeed a member. No arguments here. Don't waste my time.

[jefflevin7]

SAMMY DAVIS JR. in the 1960's- 1980's was called "The World's Greatest Entertainer," and he was! He had a Great Voice, had incredible dancing skills, and did great impersonations! BUT HIS VOCAL ABILITES WERE REALLY AWESOME!

HIS SINGING/VOICE HAS NOT RECEIVED THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVED!

JUT WATCH "I GOTTA BE ME" AND IT IS CLEAR THAT SAMMY WAS NEARLY IN THE SAME CLASS AS FRANK SINATRA!

GOD BLESS YOU SAMMY!!

[GeoDubya1]

yeah check out Bill Cosby on the Maraqaus in the background LOL

[GeoDubya1]

Sing it Sammy!!!

[emanuelburke]

haha he tapped cosby and said, "Hey buddy , can you cool it? im about to sing buddy." HAHA!!!! what great friends

[JWTEDDI]

Thee was no one like sammy davis jr. He was the most underrated singer around. Just love his fantastic voice. RIP sammy!

[puketai]

the yuppy in cannonball run sings a little of this as he rides a motorbike out of a plane and parachutes down. very cool.

[IRAIIIN]

amazing voice.....

[breatheaider]

MY NEW THEME SONG !!!!!!

IF I HAD TO DESCRIBE MYSELF AND MY ATTITUDE AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE THIS SONG SAYS IT ALL

[haymaker710]

I like how he told Bill Cosby to put the cigar out.

[Waszma]

Check out "The Coz"...lolol. Sammy had sick talent, period.

[JeanCocteau777]

13 people do not deserve to draw another breath.

[celticlarry]

SERIO

[missshowbiz]

he was quite simply THE BEST ... we will never see the likes of him ever again

[mjfan6513]

I love this!! thanks for sharing Susie :)

[Nightflower51]

One of the best artists of his time. Great song, and I love the lyrics.

Thank you for sharing Susie.

[cashauer]

It's nice to see some good ole show biz without all the glitz that the media tends to put on everything these days. He sang he was great at it and it came from the heart. You can just see it and hear it in his actions and voice. Pure and simple talent the way it should be. Thanks for sharing Susie

[shawent]

A total legend,thanks mrwaynejohn for the share.

[rienzied]

A born legend who shared his life with us by entertaining us all the way through...

[statis]

lol at the conductor getting pissed at cosby.

[paulpitt52]

Later in this Playboy After Dark episode Jerry Lewis made a surprise visit. He and Sammy sang a duet of Rock-a-Bye Your Baby (with a dixie melody) Just great!

[vifa1000]

That's Bill Cosby on Maracas, isn't it?

[sobeluvr]

Man o man.... Sammy had the pipes and sang with conviction. The power of his singing, the inflection, and tone on this song completed devastated me, leaving me teary-eyed. And that's pretty hard to do. RIP Sammy. You were the best and completely electric in everything you did. God love your soul.

[MrSkyydude]

all the women in the background have some serious cleavage

[2watcheyelike]

wow i love the lyrics to this song its so true...

[justicejayent]

@MrWaynejohn you ared the duke amonger kings.thanked you alwayed.i lave this songs sammy is thee great *****

[mudduck60]

simple and amazing !!! :)

[brucekirk89]

wonder if that was a jock with the cigar guy or not

[classicvinylbiz]

There are really no words to describe this footage. Watching and listening to it, we are transported back in time to an all-too brief period in history which, we know now (and can only really fully appreciate in hindsight) was filled with remarkable music and artistic treasures such as this great, talented and wonderful man. This video is a priceless contribution to the YouTube archives and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for uploading it.

[brucecap]

Wasn't that Bill Cosby with the cigar? Funny, Sammy was a chain smoker so it's funny that the cigar would have bothered him-he may have been teasing Cos.

[Lisa246861]

@brucecap Yup, that was Cosby. And the funny thing is that as soon as he told him that, he picked up his own cigarette and began singing. :-)

[drroberson4]

AMAZING!!!!!!!!

[BroqenHart]

Whether I'm right or whether I'm wrong, whether I find a place in this world or never belong... I gotta be me...

Gotta love Sammy <3

[ztv]

R.I.P Sammy Davis Jr. 20 years then he past away.

[Basoflakes]

Yo Sammy, you the king baby.

[Stressos]

Magic !!!!!!

[goldfishal]

If Sammy isn't god then I am gonna be upset when I die

[MzMack1983]

@goldfishal -- then u might as well get upset now then. Dont wait til u Die.

[goldfishal]

@MzMack1983 good point, no worth in putting it off

[BODaciousVideoClips]

This is the inspiration for the BODacious Starwalk in Hollywood. Ever Sunday at 2PM Sharp the LAST Sunday of EVERY month.

Zik

The Wizard of BOD.

[ohdarlin56]

I'm so glad these videos are still around. It really makes the new music seem amateurish.

[SATURDAYateSUNDAY]

@ohdarlin56 it sure dose

makes alot of people look like trash

[horncomposer]

@ohdarlin56

ok, we all have our opinions, but please realize there big differences in generations. besides there is good new music and bad older music. plus there are major differences between all the different styles and audiences. so maybe it's not the best idea to compare apples to cilantro or mushrooms....

[hdfatboy2k]

That is Anthony Newley in the bow tie, to the left of the blond at 3:00. He is behind Sammy during most of the performance.

[haymaker710]

Kooky baby. He told Bill Cosby to put out his cigar and he had Hugh Hefner in his audience. That's a gas, man.

[BobBerkeley]

Davis may be singing live, but the broadcast audio is a recording. It's not hard to figure out--just listen and watch his mouth at the same time. Also, since when does a small combo include a string section and a glockenspiel? But it's fun to watch King Hefner at 2:57 stick his pipe back in his mouth so he can applaud with both hands.

[rapazitul]

before, in those times there was a delay between video and audio, I refer to television in those days. Why you say it's playback, but I argue. It is not playback, is just a delay due to a lower quality equipment, compared with this times

[BODaciousVideoClips]

Wow I'm back here again!

The Wizard of BOD

[Beautifulmusiclistnr]

This song happens to be a personal favorite of mine that I remember hearing when I was a child, and I loved hearing it and singing along with it. I also enjoyed CandyMan as a child and still enjoy it! When it comes to beautiful music, "I won't settle down or settle for less. I'll go it alone if that's how it must be". Just a beautiful, powerful song and Sammy sings it so well! Just terrific! I think this video was made in 1968 or 1969. I have this song on cassette. Thanks for posting!

[Blackjesus3]

@Beautifulmusiclistnr ye candyman is a great song :D sammys so amazing :D

[hollywoodfinch]

Ditto for me too! It's such a dynamic song for Sammy Davis Jr. I love this kind of music! "What Kind Of Fool Am I" is another favorite of mine. Do you remember "The Shelter Of Your Arms"? That was a great song that top 40 radio used to play in the 1960s.

[Beautifulmusiclistnr]

@hollywoodfinch Are you kidding? I definitely remember "The Shelter of Your Arms", and "What Kind of Fool Am I" reminds me of myself! lol Sammy sang that so beautifully. How about "Talk to The Animals" by him. Just Beautiful music! I love this kind of music also! Thanks for posting!

[51maryruth]

this was my Mom's favorite singer of all time, this song we had played at her funeral, she passed away will be 2 years this April 2nd, I miss he so much, and remember her story if getting ti finally see SAMMY in Las Vegas, How I miss her , Rest in Peace Mom!!!!

[Blackjesus3]

sammys the best :D

[burtonrules123]

ha this always cracks me up ever sinc edave barry mentioned this song in his book of bad songs. i always laugh at the part IVE GOT TO BE MEEEEEEEEEEEE, IVE GOT TO BE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! hahahahahahhaha funny song

[Blackjesus3]

the man who could do nething

[ParkerAllen2]

Wow.  Strange comments. Sammy is obviously joking. I bet they were friends. Back then, Cosby was well known for his cigar habit.

[goldenroberson84]

that is not cosby

[ParkerAllen2]

Goldenroberson84: Of course it's Cosby. Google images of Cosby from that era. Anybody who was around at that time would instantly recognize him. That's the whole point of the joke.  Sammy is treating someone who's very famous as this weird nobody who he doesn't recognize. Sammy would never actually do that if it was some anonymous guy with a cigar.

[BLACKSTARS69]

THis that is Crosby

[mightyafrowhitey]

I personally don't see what the big deal is. so he's leaning on the piano smoking a cigar... I wouldn't have cared. then again I'm not sammy david jr. and he's not me.

[JDZ2012]

It's Sammy Davis Junior bitch!!!

[mightyafrowhitey]

@JDZ2012 yea yea yea, go make me a sandwich and shut the fuck up.

[JDZ2012]

No soup... or sandwich for you!!!

[misterrightuk]

Wow

[josh91ChRoNiK]

wat year is this

[StraightTwoDVD]

sammy put cosby in his fucking place...cosby is hogging for screen time and thinks he's gonna upstage sammy while he's singing..he must be fucking kidding ...no way does sammy take shit like that from cosby...if cosby had pulled this on sinatra he would have slugged him...

good for you sammy ..didnt take shit from assholes..

and cosby should have known better then to pull that on a star of sammys caliber...

and cosby slinks away like a shoe shufflin nigga....fuck u cosby eat my ballsack nigga

[wikidoodle]

funny is how he keeps the cig in his mic hand while waving away the cigar. Thank you America for letting people be themselves.

[StraightTwoDVD]

cosby knows he's in "the frame"..so to speak..he is well aware of what he's doing and you couldnt be more selfish or disrespectful to the performer to sammy...

so this pisses me off...and check out the youtube clip of sly and the family stone on the ed sullivan show...they kick ass!!!!

[websurfer1001]

Amazing talent! Sammy will never be forgotten!

[mattjackleroy]

He was born to, lived and died show biz.

[trwent]

Sammy's voice was so great because it had an incredible resonance that made it seem as though he were singing in an echo chamber.

[dueds]

the last note is unbelievable